SHOREBIRDS of South America
Most Shorebirds walk along shores probing for food with their thin sensitive bills. Bill length varies considerably so differing species can work the same shore and obtain different food supplies. Shorebirds include sandpipers, godwits, stilts, oystercatchers, plovers, and many more. Shorebirds belong to the Charadriiformes order which also includes the Gulls and Allies.
Note: the term Shorebirds is used in the Americas; elsewhere "waders" is used. We will reserve "waders" for herons and allies.
Note: the term Shorebirds is used in the Americas; elsewhere "waders" is used. We will reserve "waders" for herons and allies.
Long Billed Shorebirds
Order Charadriiformes Suborder Scolopaci Family Scolopacidae
Suborder Scolopaci contains one family, Scolopacidae. This family contrains the shorter-blled sandpipers and allies and also longer-billed species such as the godwits and curlews.
Genus Actitis
Sandpiper, Common Actitis hypoleucos Found: North America (rarely), Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia
Photographed by: 1) Juan Emilio 2) Steve Garvie 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Scotland
Sandpiper, Spotted Actitis macularia Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1, 2) Alan D Wilson - North Arm, Iona Beach Regional Park, Richmond, British Columbia
3) Winnu 4) Alan - La Jolla Shores Beach (Near Scripp's Pier), La Jolla, California
5) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 6) Dick - Jamaica 7) Dick - Puerto Rico 8) Dick - Florida
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1, 2, 3) Breeding
Genus Bartramia - 1 species
Sandpiper, Upland Bartramia longicauda Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Pesayo 2) Johnath - Ontario, Canada 3) Dario Niz - Uruguay 4) Claudio Timm
Genus Gallinago
Snipe, Common Gallinago gallinago Found: North America (Alaska), South America (Northwast), Europe, Asia, Africa
Similar to Wilson's Snipe. Wilson's and the Common Snipe were previously considered to be one species. Common Snipes usually have 7 pairs of tail
feathers while Wilson Snipes have 8 pairs. The easist way to tell them apart is by location: Common are predominately Old World and Wilson's are predominately New World.
Snipe, South American Gallinago paraguaiae Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Snipe, Wilson's Gallinago delicata Found: The Americas, Europe (vagrant)
Similar to Common Snipe. Wilson's and the Common Snipe were previously considered to be one species. Common Snipes usually have 7 pairs of tail
feathers while Wilson Snipes have 8 pairs. The easist way to tell them apart is by location: Common are predominately Old World and Wilson's are predominately New World.
2, 3, 4) Alan D Wilson - Richmond, British Columbia; Highway 205, Near Burns, Oregon
5) Linda Westerinen - Colusa Reserve, California 6) Dick Daniels - Ash, North Carolina 7) Dick - Ash
Genus Limnodromus
Dowitcher, Long-billed Limnodromus scolopaceus Found: North America, Asia. Rare: South America, Europe, Africa
Similar to: Short-billed Dowitcher. Very difficult to distinguish by appearance; bill length may help but it is not conclusive. Short-billed are more likely found at the sea shore and Long-billed are more likely to be found inland.
4) Alan D. Wilson - Birding Center, Port Aransas,
Dowitcher, Short-billed Limnodromus griseus Found: The Americas, Europe (rare)
Similar to: Long-billed Dowitcher. Very difficult to distinguish by appearance; bill length may help but it is not conclusive. Short-billed are more likely found at the sea shore and Long-billed are more likely to be found inland.
1 - 4) Non breeding 6) Breeding
Genus Limosa
Godwit, Hudsonian Limosa haemastica Found: The Americas. Australia (vagrant)
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Cairns, Australia 2, 3) Cláudio Timm in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Godwit, Marbled Limosa fedoa Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1, 2, 4) Dick Daniels- Monterey, California 3) Dick - Arizona
5) Alan D. Wilson - Huntington Beach, California 6) Alan D Wilson - Huntington Beach
Genus Numenius
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand.
Photographed by: 1, 5. 6. 8) Dick Daniels - Half Moon Bay, California 3) Dick - Half Moon Bay 4) Dick - the Galapagos Islands
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7) Elaine R. Wilson - La Jolla Shores Beach (Near Scripp's Pier), La Jolla, California
Genus Phalaropus
Phalarope, Wilson's Phalaropus tricolor Found: The Americas, Europe
Photographed by: 1) J N Stuart 2) Amy McAndrews - Mexico 3) CV Vick - California
4) Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexico 5) Dominic Sherony 6) Alan D. Wilson - Oregon
1) Juvenile 2) Juvenile eclipse 4) Male breeding 5, 6) Female breeding
Genus Tringa
Sandpiper, Solitary Tringa solitaria Found: The Americas
Similar to the Green Sandpiper
Tattler, Wandering Tringa incana Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels- Kauai, Hawaii 2, 3) Jason Crotty - California 4) Winnu
1, 2) Nonbreeding 3, 4) Breeding
Willet, (Eastern) Tringa semipalmata Found: East coast of The Americas
There are two distinct groups of willets - one on the east coast of the Americas and one on the west coast of the Americas. They may eventually be given independent species
status.
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6) Taken on Sunset Beach on April 26, 2009. The black debris are ashes from Myrtle Beach forest fire.
Willet, Western Tringa semipalmata Found: West coast of The Americas
There are two distinct groups of willets - one on the east coast of the Americas and one on the west coast of the Americas. They may eventually be given independent species
status.
3) Charlie Westerinen - the Bolsa Chica wetlands - Huntington Beach, CA
4) Alan D. Wilson - Upper Huntington Bay Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, California
1) Willets with a godwit.
Yellowlegs, Greater Tringa melanoleuca Found: The Americas
Similar to Lesser Yellowlegs. Difficult to differentiate between greater and lesser yellowlegs unless the two species are close by for comparison.
Similar to: Spotted Redshank in nonbreeding season. Yellowlegs have yellow legs while Spotted Redshanks have red legs.
Similar to: Spotted Redshank in nonbreeding season. Yellowlegs have yellow legs while Spotted Redshanks have red legs.
2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 5) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazi
Yellowlegs, Lesser Tringa flavipes Found: The Americas
Similar to Greater Yellowlegs. Difficult to differentiate between greater and lesser yellowlegs unless the two species are close by for comparison.
Similar to: Spotted Redshank in nonbreeding season. Yellowlegs have yellow legs while Spotted Redshanks have red legs.
Similar to: Spotted Redshank in nonbreeding season. Yellowlegs have yellow legs while Spotted Redshanks have red legs.
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1 - 5) Nonbreeding 6, 7, 8) Breeding
5) Willet is larger than Lesser Yellowlegs 8) Lesser Yellowlegs is larger than Short-billed Dowitcher
All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details. Dick Daniels, webmaster.